Does usability testing ensure product success?

That was a tough one, and a thought provoking one. What is usability testing? Doesn’t it mean you’ve already designed something?(prototype at least) Where does the the design idea come from? Yes. More than testing what you’ve built, the success of your product hinges on watching users perform the tasks that your product would perform… BEFORE you start designing. Watch them work, observe how the environment affects their performance… you don’t understand what I am saying? Well, if you are building an e-commerce site, don’t jump on it; go to a shopping mall watch how the shoppers shop, if you have a question go ask them… and carefully analyse the data you have collected – I am sure you’d find the solutions for your design there.. (the design is a solution that’s another thing). You might wanna read this: Stalk your users